Renew My Church grouping update of St. Gregory the Great and Sts. Ita and Thomas of Canterbury

The Archdiocese of Chicago announced May 13 an update on the Renew My Church grouping comprised of St. Gregory the Great Parish and Sts. Ita and Thomas of Canterbury Parish.

St. Gregory the Great Parish will become part of Sts. Ita and Thomas of Canterbury Parish. The leaders and parishioners of the new parish will discern possibilities for the parish’s permanent name within guidelines provided by the archdiocese and will submit their candidates to Cardinal Cupich for his decision on the permanent name. The effective date for the union of these parishes will be determined based on several factors related to the re-opening of parishes.

St. Ita will continue to hold regularly scheduled Mass and be designated the parish church, where the business office and records are kept. St. Thomas of Canterbury will continue to hold regularly scheduled Mass and operate as a church of the parish, with a particular focus on its outreach ministries. St. Gregory the Great will continue to hold regularly scheduled Mass and operate as a church of the new parish, with a particular focus on cultural outreach, building on its Evangelization Through the Arts programming.

Parish leadership will review this structure annually to evaluate success and sustainability, with a formal review after three years to determine if continuing three campuses best supports the work of making disciples, building communities and inspiring witness in a financially sustainable manner.

St. Thomas of Canterbury will continue to serve as the parish school. St. Gregory the Great has been a sponsor parish of Northside Catholic Academy. Sts. Ita and Thomas of Canterbury Parish, with St. Gregory the Great now added, will support Northside Catholic Academy.